President Bola Tinubu has appealed to his Senegalese counterpart, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, to collaborate and persuade the countries that recently resigned from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)—Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—to rejoin the regional body.
Receiving President Faye at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, Tinubu called for a unified approach in West Africa to address challenges such as terrorism, banditry, human trafficking, and poverty. He emphasized that democratic governance and values, constitutional order, and the rule of law are essential and must be upheld. Tinubu also noted that the people should be the central focus of governance.
Praising Senegal for its commitment to constitutional democracy, President Tinubu highlighted the long-standing cooperative relationship between Nigeria and Senegal. He urged a collaborative effort to strengthen democracy and economic growth in the region, stating, “We must partner to make our people the focus of our democratic commitment.”
Tinubu extended an invitation to work together to persuade the dissenting ECOWAS members to return, stressing the importance of combating human trafficking, terrorism, and poverty. He reiterated the need for solidarity in promoting democratic governance and economic development.
In response, President Faye acknowledged the shared values and challenges between Nigeria and Senegal. He called for the reactivation of the Nigeria-Senegal joint commission to bolster bilateral relations in diplomacy, trade, and other areas. Faye emphasized that ECOWAS remains a beacon of successful regional integration and expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership to strengthen member state relations.
Faye noted, “With your wisdom and experience, and my determination, we can convince our brothers to return to the fold and uphold our shared democratic values.” He stressed the importance of unity in facing common challenges and achieving economic prosperity for the region.
